Trying to find a way to live on jam and pickles alone. And probably putting them in a cocktail.

Jars for #afundforjennie

Let me preface this by saying I don’t know Jennifer Perillo. I had found her blog through Punk Domestics, when she linked her three-part preserving cherries posts. I found these posts only a few weeks before it happened. It, being the loss of her husband. Not just any loss – a complete, out of the blue life change. The kind you just can’t prepare for. I followed the story as people prepared #apieformikey. The food blog community blew me away with their heartwarming and supportive baking acts of kindness.

But that’s what kind of a community it is. It’s been there for me recently. Like a lot of folks, we are struggling to stay afloat these days – living paycheck to paycheck. Needless to say, it’s a rough time to graduate with a mountain of debt and crap job prospects. I barely can carve out funds for preserving produce, and I am prioritizing choices I never thought I would have to make after graduate school. I certainly picked the wrong time to try to start a business. All of which pales in comparison to Jennie’s world right now. But every day, despite everything that doesn’t go my way, I get to delve into the food blog world. I can lose myself in all the great things I have the potential to do in the kitchen someday. Every day I find new blogs that inspire me to make do with what I have, to find the beauty in the simplest things, to try a new recipe or technique. It is this community that picks me up when I am having a rough day. This community inspires me to do better. This community fosters creativity I didn’t know I had.

Every one of us is living a life which could be shattered into a million pieces tomorrow. Mikey was supporting Jennie and their family so she could live out her dream. And now she is left with an uncertain future and incoming bills. On top of the fact that the Social Security Administration denied her widow benefits because she makes too much money. With two children, there is no such thing as too much money.

I desperately want to give to Jennie what I don’t have to give. I do have, though, great friends (who I’ve never actually met) who are willing to help multiply what little I can offer. This is exactly what is so great about the food blogging community and #afundforjennie. I asked a few friends if they would like to donate something. They asked a few of their friends, who suggested more people who I should contact… and it went from there. Here is what we have lined up for your donation:

If you would like to contribute a jar, please email me ASAP so we can finalize the auction. Bidding will start now and conclude on Friday September 2nd at 11:59pm EDT. We will ship to the US and Canada. We’ll start the bidding at $100. All proceeds will go to #afundforjennie.

We put together this group of preserves, jams and pickles (and carrots!) because we hope that each bit of food put away for a rainy day reminds us that better days are coming. That sometimes you can plan for the future, come what may. And for us, the simple act of putting up a few jars is therapeutic beyond measure. I made the carrot pickles for the first time on Tuesday night, right after I read that #afundforjennie had gathered over $14,000 for Jennie in just. two. days. I couldn’t stop thinking of her while I went through the pickle motions – from chopping to brining to sealing. Our auction is one of MANY – go check them out.

To bid, just leave a comment with an email address where we can reach you. If you can find it in your heart and budget to go above and beyond, you can also donate to Jennie directly through Bloggers Without Borders:

Jennie’s story is so tragic and so beautiful and resonates so strongly with us because she could be us. She IS us. This is why we have to help, in any way we can. Please give to #afundforjennie – every dollar counts.

Hi Stacy! I only just got power back last night, so I am a bit behind on things. I emailed Wendy and once she gets back to me with confirmation of her bid, I will let you guys know the rest. Thanks for checking in!